1. Report of the Chair
2. Update on the Corrigan Committee
   Dean Nils Olsen, Chair
3. Executive Session
4. Adjournment

Professor Kramer won the election for the SUNY Senate over Dr. Coles, by a vote of 203-201.

The Graduate School Executive Committee met last week and discussed issues concerning the Graduate Faculty. Upon appointment to a full title at the University, the individual is entitled to membership on the Graduate Faculty; the member must be in the computer system, which occurs on the first day of service at UB. If a faculty member transfers from one unit to another, the second unit needs to reaffirm that they want that faculty member on their graduate faculty. In another point on the agenda, Keith Otto (Intensive Language) and Steven Shaw (International Education) reported on requirements for international students at UB and on the availability of help to improve their ability to speak. Shaw talked also about recruitment of international students. Professor Nickerson distributed a print-out of the PowerPoint presentation delivered at the GSEC meeting.

The Computer Services Committee met on Monday; Dr. Peter Gold reported on the UBCATS on-line course reservation system. The Committee also discussed the Turnitin program, anti-plagiarism and privacy issues.

The Affirmative Action Committee met on Monday; it is currently working on a guide to recruitment and retention and will interact with the Vice-Provost for Faculty Affairs at the end of March.

Professor Brazeau reported that the Athletics and Recreation Committee, of which she is co-chair, met on Monday after an 18-month hiatus. The Committee had an informational meeting with Director Warde Manuel, and Professor Brazeau had met with Vice-Provost Ryan in November; the co-chairs also served on an ad hoc task force to look at Wellness at UB. The Committee’s agenda for this semester is threefold:

• To explore, at Vice-Provost Ryan’s request, the possibility of serving as a review and advisory committee for course approval;
• To determine the status of Recreation with respect to Wellness/Fitness on campus, including compiling an inventory and examining the availability of facilities, equipment, and programs; the Committee will meet with Professor Shibley to discuss how Athletics fits into UB’s Master Plan;
• To work with the Corrigan Committee in trying to implement its recommendations.

Dean Olsen briefly summarized the history of the Committee. In 2005, Gene Corrigan submitted an evaluation of the Athletics program at UB; President Simpson formed the Committee to review Corrigan’s report, respond to issues raised therein, and to submit recommendations for making the Athletics program fully competitive. Olsen commented that “many of the issues that were raised have already been addressed”, the first of which resulted in the decision to keep UB in Division 1-A --- one of the very few in New York State. A second recommendation --- to hire a highly qualified Athletics Director to replace the interim director --- was answered with the hiring of Warde Manuel from the University of Michigan. A third suggestion, still under discussion, concerns the issue of whether UB can afford to mount competitive teams in several sports.

The fourth recommendation is to “identify and provide financial support” needed to maintain competitiveness in the Mid-America Conference. The fifth directed the University to “pick sports for championship support” and thus create a two-tiered system of support found at many institutions. The sixth recommendation concerned the maintenance of academic achievement; Dean Olsen remarked that this has already been addressed --- the Athletics Support program has been completely overhauled, the resources have been substantially increased, and there has been increased investment in tutoring. Other recommendations included: securing support from the UB administration (already confirmed in word and deed by President Simpson); regular interaction with deans, vice-presidents and provosts; and integration within all aspects of Strategic Planning, including the resource allocation process.

The Committee has met with each of the coaches to discuss the needs and progress of their individual programs, with the student athletes, and with each of the administrative units within the Division. Two public forums have been scheduled, on February 21 (at the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County) and on February 27 (at the Center for the Arts), both from 7- 9 PM. In addition, the Committee has solicited comments and suggestions from local amateur sports groups, sports programs at local schools, donors to the Athletics program, and the Iroquois Confederacy.

Intercollegiate Athletics at UB operates this year on a budget of about $19.5 million. Of this, $4.5 million come from Athletics revenue (ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, etc.); $6 million come from student athletics fees; $6.2 million from University and State support; and $3 million resulting from a one-tie investment request.

The lack of gender equity, which at many institutions leads to the demise of some sports programs, is not a problem here; in fact, Dean Olsen pointed out that UB sports a “very good record” on gender equity, and is the only Division 1 university which has African Americans as football coach, basketball coach, and Athletic Director (as featured in the national press last year).

The importance of building and maintaining competitive and winning programs cannot be underestimated in helping to create a positive image for the University as a whole. In addition, to be eligible for Division 1-A membership, UB must:

• sponsor at least 16 varsity intercollegiate sports, with a certain number of all-male and all-female sports;
• sponsor at least one sport involving an all-male team or mixed male/female team (e.g., track and field);
• sponsor at least one all-female sport in each of the three sport seasons;
• meet certain scheduling and attendance requirements for football;
• and satisfy a host of other NCAA requirements.

Professor Danford pointed out that Division 1-A is divided into the majors and mid-majors, and wondered if the Committee had considered alternatives at the Division 1-A level, “including non-scholarship 1-A programs or conferences that would be closer [to UB] in terms of our academic peers”. Dean Olsen responded that this consideration lay out of the scope of the charge to the Committee; rather, it is to provide recommendations which could help inform decisions not yet made.

To questions from Dr. Coles. Olsen responded that not all sports are fully funded; UB is about in the middle with respect to sponsoring of athletic scholarships as well as coaches’ salaries. Professor Dayton applauded the President’s decision to stay in Division 1, citing it as name recognition and a source of institutional pride; Olsen agreed, pointing out that we are competitive in several Olympic sports, and that our Athletics program helps create more quality in student life on campus. Professor Batalama asked if there was any formal relationship between University and professional teams in the area; Olsen answered that there are only informal ties, such as membership on search committees, and sharing of practice facilities. On this last point, he noted that the lack of an indoor facility, in our climate, is a “real detriment” to our program. Professor Baumer reminded the FSEC that in the past, SUNY absolutely prohibited any kind of athletic scholarship, a policy UB had to skirt to keep certain programs alive. Olsen agreed, noting that SUNY has become a little “more open to the concept, but not much, and there’s a great deal of work to be done to get this system into a mind-set that understands the relevance of intercollegiate athletics” for the University.